GB2296265A

GB2296265A - Closure for multi-layer panel

Info

Publication number: GB2296265A
Application number: GB9526263A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Newey; Charles Damar Dawson
Original assignee: Newdawn & Sun Ltd
Current assignee: Newdawn & Sun Ltd
Priority date: 1994-12-21
Filing date: 1995-12-21
Publication date: 1996-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2015-12-21
Also published as: GB9425858D0; GB2296265B; GB9526263D0

Abstract

A closure (6) closes an edge face (5) of a multi-layer panel (1), of e.g. polycarbonate for use as the roof of structures such as greenhouses and conservatories, to protect the edge face from the weather. The closure (6) comprises a plastics member (7) having upper and lower arms (9, 10) for respective engagement with outer surfaces of upper and lower panel sheet layers (2, 3). A closure part (11) joins the arms and is adapted to lie adjacent to the edge face. An insert means (8) of more rigid material e.g. steel or aluminium increases the rigidity of the closure part. The upper member can be sealed by a sealant or adhesive introduced into a channel (13). A ventilation duct (17) allows the passage of water vapour and air. A flange (19) directs water away from the lower arm (10). <IMAGE>

Description

CLOSURE FOR MULTI-LAYER PANEL This invention relates to a closure of the kind used for closing an edge face of a multi-layer panel comprising at least two sheet layers connected by spacer members to form cavities between the layers.

Known multi-layer panels are made of synthetic materials such as polycarbonates, and are used for the roofs of structures such as greenhouses and conservatories. In use, each edge face must be closed by a closure in order to protect it from the weather while allowing the passage of air and water vapour. A known closure of the kind set forth comprises upper and lower arms for sealing engagement respectively with outer surfaces of upper and lower panel sheets, and a closure part joining the arms and lying adjacent the edge face. The closure may be of aluminium, which makes the edge face relatively rigid, so that it is suitable for use with all widths of panel, but the closure may be difficult to apply and remove, and may not seal satisfactorily against the panel. It is also known for the closures to be of plastics material such as uPVC.These are easier to apply and remove, and seal satisfactorily, but do not make the edge face so rigid. This means that they are not so suitable for use on the wide panels that are now available; the edge face tends to vibrate in strong winds if it is not sufficiently rigid.

According to the present invention, a closure of the kind set forth comprises a plastics member having upper and lower arms for respective engagement with outer surfaces of upper and lower panel sheet layers, and a closure part joining the arms and adapted to lie adjacent the edge face, and insert means of more rigid material constructed and arranged to increase the rigidity of the closure part.

The insert means therefore increases the rigidity of a plastics closure without losing the advantages of ease of use and efficient sealing, enabling a plastics closure to be used on wider sheets.

Preferably the insert means comprises a metal insert. This may be of stainless or galvanised steel, or aluminium. The metal insert conveniently comprises a plate running continuously along the closure member, to provide consistent rigidity. Preferably the plate is a flat plate.

Where the closure part comprises an end piece joining the arms and abutment means, spaced from the end piece, for the edge face, the insert means is provided adjacent the abutment means, between the abutment means and the end piece. The insert means may then be a flat strip, or be shaped to the internal contour of the closure part. The plastics member may be extruded round the insert means. Alternatively, it may be assembled onto the plastics member, and held in place in any suitable way, such as by frictional engagement.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, of which the single figure is a cross-section through a closure in place on a multi-layer panel.

The figure shows a multi-layer panel 1 comprising upper and lower flat sheets 2, 3 of polycarbonate separated by spacers (not shown) to form cavities in the form of channels 4. The channels 4 are open at an edge face 5 of the panel 1, and are closed by a closure 6, which protects the edge face from the weather while allowing the passage of air and water vapour.

The closure 6 comprises a plastics member 7 extruded from uPVC, together with an insert means 8 of more rigid material such as stainless steel.

The plastics member 7 has upper and lower spaced arms 9, 10 for engagement with the outer surfaces of the flat sheets 2, 3 and a closure part 11 joining the arms 9, 10. The arms 9, 10 resiliently grip the sheets 2, 3 to retain the closure 6 on the panel 1. The upper arm 9 has an angled portion 12 defining an internal channel 13 which runs the length of the member 7. An adhesive or other sealant material, such as silicon mastic, is introduced into the channel 13 to enhance the sealing of the member 7. The closure part 11 comprises an end piece 14 connecting the arms 9, 10 and abutment means for the edge face 5 of the panel in the form of ribs 15, 16 projecting inwardly from the arms 9, 10 respectively. The ribs 15, 16 are parallel to but spaced from the end piece 14, to define a ventilation duct 17 which runs the length of the member 7.A gap 18 between the ends of the ribs 15, 16 connects the channels 4 to the duct 17, which is open at its ends to the atmosphere. The end piece 14 has a depending flange 19 extending beyond the lower arm 10 to direct water away from the lower arm.

The insert means 8 comprises a flat plate 20 of stainless steel which runs the length of the member 7, and is located in the duct 17 adjacent the ribs 15, 16. The plastics member is in fact extruded round the insert plate 20. The insert plate 20 increases the rigidity of the closure part 11. This enables the closure 6 to be used on quite wide panels 1, since the closure 6 has sufficient rigidity to counteract the tendency of the edge face to vibrate in strong winds.

For use, the closure 6 is simply cut to the length required, the adhesive is provided in the channel 13, and the closure is then pushed on to the edge face 5 of the panel 1 until the edge face 5 engages the ribs 15, 16.

The insert means 8 may be modified in a number of ways. For example, the plate 20 may be of galvanised steel, aluminium or any other suitably rigid material.

The insert means 8 may also be of a different configuration (not shown) such as a pair of plates, or to fit a part of the contour of the duct 17, it may also be discontinuous. Furthermore, in another modification (not shown) the insert means may be assembled onto the plastics member 7 after extrusion, and held in place in any suitable way, such as by frictional engagement. It would also be possible for the insert means 8 to have a different position within the closure part 11.

Claims

1. A closure of the kind set forth, comprising a plastics member having upper and lower arms for respective engagement with outer surfaces of upper and lower panel sheet layers, and a closure part joining the arms and adapted to lie adjacent to the edge face, and insert means of more rigid material constructed and arranged to increase the rigidity of the closure part.

2. A closure as claimed in claim 1, in which the insert means comprises a metal insert.

3. A closure as claimed in claim 2, in which the metal insert is of stainless steel.

4. A closure as claimed in claim 2, in which the metal insert is of galvanised steel.

5. A closure as claimed in claim 2, in which the metal insert is of aluminium.

6. A closure as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, in which the metal insert comprises a plate running continuously along the closure member.

7. A closure as claimed in claim 6, in which the plate is a flat plate.

8. A closure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the closure part comprises an end piece joining the arms and abutment means, spaced from the end piece, for the edge face and the insert means is provided adjacent the abutment means, between the abutment means and the end piece.

9. A closure as claimed in claim 8, in which the insert is a flat strip.

10. A closure as claimed in claim 8, in which the insert is shaped to the internal contour of the closure part.

11. A closure as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the plastics member is extruded around the insert means.

12. A closure as claimed in any of claims 2 to 10, in which the insert means is assembled onto the plastics member and held in place.

13. A closure as claimed in claim 12, in which the insert means is held in place by frictional engagement.

14. A closure substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.